Felix da Costa to keep Red Bull backing

Antonio Felix da Costa will continue to enjoy Red Bull's backing next season, despite no longer being part of the Austrian firm's Formula 1 team.

The Portuguese driver first joined Red Bull as a reserve driver in 2013, a year on from being selected to join the energy drink giant’s junior scheme in place of Lewis Williamson.

Impressive results in Formula Renault 3.5 in late 2012 and in 2013 made Felix da Costa the prime candidate to step up to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Toro Rosso in 2014, but he was ultimately overlooked in favour of GP3 champion Daniil Kvyat.

Felix da Costa nonetheless remained a Red Bull reserve in 2014, a role he has since combined with a full-time DTM drive with BMW and a Formula E seat at Team Aguri.

While the 24-year-old has severed his ties to the Milton Keynes outfit now in order to be able to focus more on his other commitments, he confirmed he will remain part of the Red Bull family in 2016.

“My goal to be connected to the F1 team was to one day have the chance [to race] myself,” Felix da Costa explained to Motorsport.com.

“As that’s a bit far away now, I decided to make myself more available for my DTM and Formula E commitments.

“I still have a great relationship with Red Bull, and I will carry on using their colours next year and being under their wing, which is great.”

Asked if he had any regrets about his stint at the Red Bull F1 team, Felix da Costa said he was grateful to Helmut Marko for the opportunities he received.

“Working with the F1 team made me a much better driver,” he said.

“Going to the Grands Prix, working closely with the drivers and with the engineers both at the track and in the simulator – this has no price.

“I can only thank Dr. Marko for taking me into his programme, and giving me the chance to have driven all four of the team’s championship-winning cars.”